TORIBIO ESQUIVEL OBREGON

The only remedy for Mexico's poverty which has appealed to our politicians has been to contract foreign loans, which have never been paid, and to invite foreign capital to invest in Mexico.

Rebellions which overthrow the governments of Mexico cannot be called revolutions. A revolution is a radical change, and if there is anything that has never been changed in Mexico it is the method of putting new public functionaries into office by rebellion.

In the early colonial period the commerce of Mexico was monopolized by Spain, and this has been the explanation given by most writers for the backwardness of Mexico. They do not seem to know that England monopolized the commerce of her American colonies more strictly than ever Spain did hers. The problem, therefore, is to explain why, as soon as the English colonies were independent, they began sending their ships all over the world, while Mexico could not find any better use for her independence than closing the country to foreign trade by a prohibitive tariff.

Never during the independent life of Mexico has a group of persons who have once obtained power been superseded by election, but only by dint of an armed rebellion. That is a constant law of our history.

Prejudices were deeply rooted; the people really believed themselves to be the richest of the world, even though they lived in destitution. They took the potentialities of the country for actual wealth.

… the term "equality" as applied in Mexico has a very restricted meaning in comparison with the meaning given it in other parts of the world. In Mexico it means that all persons, regardless of learning, preparation or ethics, are equally qualified for governmental positions.

When the value of silver began to decrease, provident governments in other countries very wisely took measures to stop the minting of silver coins. The Mexican Government did not show any interest in the matter for more than twenty years, during which time foreign miners freely brought their silver bullion to the mints to have it coined; and with the money thus obtained they bought up all the gold coins in Mexico and exported them, with profit to themselves and loss to Mexico.

Rebellions which overthrow the governments of Mexico cannot be called revolutions. A revolution is a radical change, and if there is anything that has never been changed in Mexico it is the method of putting new public functionaries into office by rebellion.

Never during the independent life of Mexico has a group of persons who have once obtained power been superseded by election, but only by dint of an armed rebellion. That is a constant law of our history.

… the term "equality" as applied in Mexico has a very restricted meaning in comparison with the meaning given it in other parts of the world. In Mexico it means that all persons, regardless of learning, preparation or ethics, are equally qualified for governmental positions.

Prejudices were deeply rooted; the people really believed themselves to be the richest of the world, even though they lived in destitution. They took the potentialities of the country for actual wealth.

When the value of silver began to decrease, provident governments in other countries very wisely took measures to stop the minting of silver coins. The Mexican Government did not show any interest in the matter for more than twenty years, during which time foreign miners freely brought their silver bullion to the mints to have it coined; and with the money thus obtained they bought up all the gold coins in Mexico and exported them, with profit to themselves and loss to Mexico.

The only remedy for Mexico's poverty which has appealed to our politicians has been to contract foreign loans, which have never been paid, and to invite foreign capital to invest in Mexico.

In the early colonial period the commerce of Mexico was monopolized by Spain, and this has been the explanation given by most writers for the backwardness of Mexico. They do not seem to know that England monopolized the commerce of her American colonies more strictly than ever Spain did hers. The problem, therefore, is to explain why, as soon as the English colonies were independent, they began sending their ships all over the world, while Mexico could not find any better use for her independence than closing the country to foreign trade by a prohibitive tariff.